Washington, DC Tourist

DC was my first stop on my Spring Break extravaganza.  To say I was excited was an understatement.  Since leaving DC, I have really missed it, especially the people, more than I thought I would.  DC is the longest place I've lived consecutively since I graduated high school and the friends I made are literally the best.  I have actually been procrastinating this post because I was feeling really sentimental about being back and didn't want to come off as a cheeseball but that is who I am so I'm embracing it!

I spend five days trying to see all my favorite people.  It was insane but so fun to catch up with everyone.  I of course forgot my camera and had to settle with Iphone pictures. 

 

We hit up my favorite restaurants and basically ate our way through the city.  It was also so fun to catch up with old co workers and get the scoop on my old job and what has been happening.  O the drama!! 

 Michele had the week off so she spent the week chauffeuring me EVERY where.  We hit up the temple.  I love this temple! I didn't plan on being there right during cherry blossom season but it worked out that that was the best time to visit.  And it was so fun to soak up my favorite time of year in DC.  The weather was perfect and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom.

 I seriously can't express how much I love this place but I realize it's mostly because of the people I love that live there.  I love London and do not regret the move I made but living in DC was the best time thus far in my life.  I have so many impressive friends who have these amazing jobs and lives.  I was reminded what a great place  DC was and I am so grateful for the time I spent there.

These girls made my trip complete.  I miss living with them!

UK Roadtrip

Every five weeks, I get some sort of break from school.  I had plans to travel during the last break but they all fell through at the last minute.  I was talking to a friend and telling him how bummed I was about it and next thing I know he is sending me his itinerary and six days later he arrived in London!  It was so last minute but I was excited to spend some time off road tripping through the Kingdom.  I think renting a car and driving around is becoming my new favorite way to see this country.  You get to see so much more and and the English countryside is worth the stress of driving on the wrong side of the road.

Isn't our car so cute?  It was so tiny--I guess it was a good thing it was just the two of us and that I have finally learned to pack light:)  Kevin insisted on driving-- something about his need to feel like James Bond.  Whatever...but I was happy navigating mostly because navigating=telling someone where to go:) Our original plan was to take a ferry across the channel to Belgium and France and then head back to the UK to finish off the trip.  At the last minute, we were told we weren't allowed to take the car out of the country so we improvised and changed our game plan to see more of the UK.  Our first stop was Windsor Palace.  I was secretly wishing this place could have been named for me...I guess there is still one more prince left.  

 

Next, we headed to Salisbury to see this tallest spire in England at the Salisbury Cathedral and then to Bath and Stonehenge. I love Bath and have been a lot since I moved here but it never gets old.  I am becoming quite a good tour guide of Bath. I think I should start charging for my services:)  PS.  If you are a Downton Abbey fan they film kinda of by Salisbury.  If you're not a fan, stop reading this and go watch this first 2 seasons--it is amazing!!

 

 

 

The next day we headed into South Wales to see the Tinturn Abbey.  First, let me say I love South Wales it is so green and quaint.  I loved the Abbey.  I was expecting it to be a structure but it is so old the roof is gone and the only thing left is the outside walls.  Plus every sign was in Welsh and English--I love that they try to preserve their language.

 

 

Next, we headed to the Cotswolds.  It is an area of England with little tiny villages that are so picturesque.  Next, to Bath I think the Cotswolds are my favorite place outside of London.  We spent time in Stow-on-the-Wold.  

 

 

Then we headed up north to York, an old medieval town that is still preserved a lot of it's medieval  history.  It is a very old city and at one point the Vikings inhabited it.  As luck would have it, there was a Viking festival the same day we were there.  Let's just say we saw some interesting people.  A couple of German "vikings" stayed at our B&B and told us all about their road trip from Germany just to come for the festival.  They were dressed in full viking garb complete with swords and shields.  It was great!  

 

 

 

Finally we made our way back south and hit up Blenheim Palace and Oxford.  The Palace was beautiful and is only a few miles from Oxford.  We got a private tour of the city by Oxford's best business student and even saw the door that inspired C.S. Lewis's Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe.  Plus Oxford has the best street lights ever!  I think they were up for Valentines Day.

 

It was a great trip and it was really nice to get out of London for a few days.  Seriously, road trips in the UK are the best way to see the sights!  Who's coming over next? 

London Lately

A random update of life in London...

It was Charles Dicken's 200th birthday this month and since he used to live in my neighborhood; I feel a special connection to him.  I started reading Great Expectations last summer but unfortunately a little thing called grad school happened and Pip's life was put on hold.  Hopefully I'll finish it someday even if it's a year later.  Happy B-day Charlie! 

I started volunteering one Saturday a month at the London temple.  When my alarm went off at 4am last Saturday, I was seriously rethinking my decision. 

 After the most stressful term yet, my classmates and I let off steam pretending to be tourist at M&M world.  C, our British friend, had never been and was mesmerized by all the choices.  I was disappointed by the fact that there were no peanut butter M&Ms.  What is it with this continent and peanut butter?  European's life would improve if they would just embrace the wonderfulness of peanut butter!

 This was the scene out my window Monday morning.  Considering I live in a pretty urban neighborhood, I was a little confused.  But living in London has taught me a few things one of which includes NEVER being surprised by what I see on the streets.

 I got a job!  And by job I mean a part time job.  And by part time job I mean my flatmates are paying my to clean the house.  As luck would have it, I was already cleaning the house and now I am being rewarded for the effort.  It's pretty great to have a little extra spending money and the control freak in me is satisfied that the house is cleaned how I want it done. Plus all the scrubbing reminds me why I decided to go to grad school.  Basically it's a win-win!

I taught Relief Society on Sunday and my lesson was on Elder Anderson's talk entitled Children. (You can find it here).  Teaching about parenthood to a bunch of single women is no easy task.  Highlights from the audience comments included:

"Even if I can't be a mom now, I can make sure to be a kick ass aunt"

"I was told by a former leader to just freeze my eggs if I'm worried about getting older"

"You know our biological clocks are ticking so we really need to get on it"

Other then that I think it went ok...I hope.

Portland Zoo: One Year

One year ago today, Keith was diagnosed with brain cancer.  I seriously cannot believe it has been one whole year.  In the beginning, there were some dark days, and while the fight is not over yet, I am so proud of Keith and all he has accomplished.  I am also so impressed with Darcee and Brent who both deserve medical degrees after this last year.  And of course Cole and Ally are amazing because they lighten the mood and make everything more fun.

New Years Eve we spent at the hospital keeping Darcee and Keith company as he still had not yet been released. We spent the night eating sushi, drinking Martenillis, playing Boggle, and cleaning up throw up.  You know a typical New Years.  The nurses let Darel and I spend the night since it was a holiday and we spent the night spooning on the window seat while Darc and Keith shared the hospital bed.  I'm not really sure who had a worse night.

New Years Day we took Keith for a wagon ride around the hospital and as luck would have it he was released later that day.

Not wanting to celebrate Christmas while Keith was in the hospital, Santa was informed not to come to the Burnett house until Keith was feeling better. 

A few days later we celebrated Christmas.  And since I was in town helping for the week I got to celebrate Christmas round two.  On Christmas Eve we watched the Grinch, Mickey's Christmas Carol, and some other lame Christmas movie the kids like.  We set out cookies, milk, and carrots for Santa and his reindeer.  The kids of course had no idea Christmas had actually passed over a week before. Here they are Christmas morning waiting to see what Santa brought them.  (Yes, Ally slept in the tutu--it was Christmas so how could I tell her no?)

Christmas with little kids is so much fun.  It was like sensory overload for them as they screamed and yelled and showed us each gift.  I think it was a little overwhelming as they weren't sure whether to play with the new gift or keep opening more.  

I am so glad I got to be part of their Christmas even if it wasn't planned.  It really did feel like Christmas which reminded me that it's not really the day but how you celebrate that matters.  This family has been through a lot this year and I'm so glad they could have some normalcy outside of hospitals and clinics even if it was a week late.  You can read more about them here or watch a cute video Sydney made for Keith here.  It is amazing how much someone so little can teach you. Love you Keith!!